The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-29

Once q Queen of the Utes-Now a Squaw
with Colorow's Band.

with Colorow's Band.
Denver Republican
Among the squaws accompanying Coorow In
his peripatetic journeys about the White-river
country is Chipeta, the wife of the lameDted
Ouray. the late head-ehief of the Ute nation
The career or this woman is beyond anything
vet written; even Fenimore Cooper. In MS
description of the romance OF aboriginal Ire.
falls far short of anything like 1t In his charac-
ter sketches.
Chipeta became best known to the people of
this country during the exciting period leading
up to and following the Meeker massacre. Inc
details of that affair are yet fresh In the puonc
mind, so fresh indeed as to justify in the minds
of some people the present military activity in
the minds of those only too well acquainted with
the sreachery of the Ute character. The Ufes,
prior to TWEEN " years ago. were unknown OUT
side the Washington Ethnologica. Bureau
They lived in the Rocky mountains, as they had
lived for centuries, and of all the tribes thas
roamed in nomadic freedom throughout the
West they had preserved the purity of their ira
ditions their costume and mode OF living were
the same as had been in vogue In the beginning
and their mode of government. republican IN form,
similar in practice to that of centuries ago,
before republic in this country was ever
dreamed Of
In conformity with the long -established Gus
tom the nation the eve of the election of
a head chief There were a number of candl-
dates ana among them was Ouray, who was
supported by the government against the claims
of Ignacio. who had the suffrages of the war
party. Ouray was for peace and on this plat
form ne elected The contest excited a
great deal of interest throughout the country,
especially at Washington.
Following Ourays election to the Craftsmanship
the first official act he was called upon TO con-
slider the advisibilitv of removal of his
tribe from the mountains of Colorado to Utah,
and in connection with proposed treaty be-
tween the United States and the Ute nation
he summoned to Washington.
On his trip he was accompanied
by. his wife. Both he and Chipeta
life. They owned their own ranch their herds
fed upon their own pastures. and in essentials
lived as white people and enjoyed the comforts
of civilized life. These facts preceded the chief
aud his consort to Washington, and with all the
romance of their wild mountain life clinging
about them, added to the heritage of an ancient
and warlike lineage. they were received with
open arms by the high social circles of the cap
ital city. Everywhere they were feted and the
doors of the mansions in the West End swung
inward at their approach.
Chipeta was idollzed She was clothed in
silks; her raiment the fancy OF the beet
Eastern dress makers, and the tawdy finely
associated with life of savagery was conspicu
GUS by it's absence The illustrated journals
took the and the wife of Ouray became
libeiled throughout the breadth of the land by
the pencils of special ''artsts." She the
rage for the season she was in Washington. and
the epstolary CORES pondeuce from attaches of
the English legation the court journals at
London referred to her as a Mountain Prin-
cess and bespoke for her hearty reception
from the peeIage of England should she visit
that country. which she at that time actually
contemplated. AS souvenirs of her visit
Washington Chipeta carried away with her
quantities of silver plate. portion of which was
presented to her bv the government through
the Interior Department.
Shortly after his visit to Washington and the
consummations of the treaty Ouray died He
sincerely mourned by his people and as
indication of their grief and in conformity with
long-established custom, the horses of the dead
man were led mp to the grave and one by one
shot All that was valuable in earthly existence
to accompany him to the happy hunting
ground of his racial but Chipeta; and she too
would probably have accompanied her liege lord
had she lived couple of centuries ago. AS it
was, the custom of her tribe, by the greatness
of her exalted position, condemned her to life
of perpetual widowhood. Any deviation from
this un written law would draw down upon her
head the malediction of the entire nation and she
would become outcast, pariah among her
people. But Chepita had will of her own. She
had tasted of the privileges which her Caucasian
sisterhood enjoyed, and when the opportunity
occurred to marry Tu muchigutti handsome
buck. she did SO, not stopping to- consider the
great fall thereby in the social SCALE AS might
have been expected, the head men of the nation
with unanimity and decision condemned both
she and her husband to ostracism. They had
both violated a sacred law of social government
and they must suffer. With her new alliance
she turned her back upon civilized life in every
form. Her silks and satins were discarded, and
even her plate melted down to make gew-
gaws for her husbands friends Her stock was
taken from her and reverse followed reverse till
she was absolutely forced beyond the line Of
tribal kinshp and she with her husband be-
a wanderer.
This doubtless was hurried by the unfortunate
mistake which she had made IN Locating
ranch on the new reservation. 1t was an excel
lent site. There plenty of water, and buff
falo. mesquit and gramma grasses gave nouiish-
ment to the stock When the lines were made
dividing Utah from Colorado it was found that
Chipeta's ranch was the wrong side Of the
line and not in the reservation. 1t became.
therefore, legitimate plumber for the settlers,
who lost time in dividing the spoil.
Like the renegade of her tribe, Chipeta in her
wanderiDgs tended to the White river country.
There at least she would be welcomed and some
respect paid to her fallen greatness She and
her husband joined Colorow, and are now with
him environed by the military forces which the
Governor has despatched for the protection of
the settlers in Garfield county.
Telegraphic advices say that some appreher-
sion is felt for Chipeta's safety. She was in
of the tents which was fired by Sheriff Ken
dals party on their first visit the Indian
camp, and she has not been seen since. 1t is
at all likely that she has been harmed she
has been compelled to practically take to the
bushes. What must be her thoughts2 When
the wife of ''the white mans friend" she aided
him in his endeavors TO prevent depredations
the whites by the fiery young bucks whom ira
dition had taught to hate white Now she
is hunted like wolf by tho paefaces whom she
once reckoned friends.
Chipeta is gowing old. She must be in the
neighborhood of fifty. Coorow once her
enemy, as he was the enemy of the peace-loving
Ouray; bnt when her white friends turned on
her she sought straits in life where she could
find friends. It is not now believed that she
entertans a warlke spirit towards the whites,
but being with Colorow she is in bad company.
Once the Queen of the nation she is now lead
ing the life Of a common squaw.
Antiquities Found in Spain,